Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30
CORE DEFINITION
A caregiver (usually the mother) deliberately harms or fabricates the illness of the person being cared for (such as a child) in order to play the role of a "selfless rescuer" and thereby gain social approval and sympathy.
SCAFFOLDING EFFECT
Reduce cognitive load
Hypocritical savior. In management or charity, some leaders deliberately create crises (or fail to solve problems) to make themselves seem indispensable or to enjoy the halo of being a "savior." This is a perverse manifestation of power.
Anchor fast decisions
The caregiver fabricates or induces symptoms in the care recipient, repeatedly seeking medical attention, thereby playing the role of "victim/rescuer" to gain attention and control; essentially, it is satisfying their own psychological needs at the expense of the other's health (a proxy form of factitious disorder).
MINIMUM ACTION
In progress 0/2Practice this model in one real situation:
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Source support: Explicit
- en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Factitious_disorder_imposed_on_anotherverified
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